Migraines

[bonbonpixie]

Sorry for the vague title, not quite sure what my question is really....
So I'm a migrane sufferer. Had my first around five years ago. It was the middle of the night. Id been sleeping and I woke with the pain. Could barely see or stand the pain was so bad. DH took me to out of hours GP. Felt better after injections of pain killers and anti-sickness drugs and completely normally again after a day or so. I suffered five of these over the next twelve months. There seemed to be nothing obvious to connect each attack. Not stress, sleep, diet, alcohol. I had my optometrist check my prescription and nothing had changed. The randomness of it all was really upsetting. We had an odd theory about stressing my weak neck (have put my neck out quite a few times. It spasms but resolves with muscle relaxants) GP said no. Then they vanished as soon as I became pregnant with my DC1.

DC2 was only three months old when I had my first of this new series. I've now had four in three months. GP can't prescribe as before as I am breast feeding. I've been taking 900mg of aspirin when I feel an attack coming on but it doesn't always work and I feel like this is just delaying the inevitable as I don't seem to feel normal again until I've had a full attack. Again there is no obvious connection. GP doesn't seem to know what to try or who to refer to. So wondering if anyone could suggest anything.

GP still says no, but I do always seem to have a sore neck just before getting a migraine. Pain in my neck is very sharp and near base of my head. Also quite often these days I seem to be suffering from a sort of headache hangover where I feel like my head is in a vice and it's also sore to the touch. Feels pressured just lying down to sleep!! Very worrying with two small children. I have private health insurance and DH suggests asking for scans to be done privately but I'm not sure if this is just total over the top and I'd look foolish asking GP for referral. Hoping someone might have some suggestions.

Thank you.

Are you anywhere near London? The London migraine clinic is v good. I'm a bit surprised GP hasn't offered you a triptan - I'm sure I had them while bf. Personally triptans are the only thing that relieves my migraines. Don't rule out a neck connection - I had neck surgery and neurosurgeon said there was a link. Maybe a referral to neurosurgeon about migraines and a physio to help neck spasms? You have my sympathy - they are hideous. Good luck

Also keep a diary - are you more likely to get a migraine at certain times of your cycle?

I second trying triptans. I take zolmitriptan and they have quite literally changed my life. At the first hint of an aura I take one and 99% of the time that does the trick.

I spent years being incapacitated for days at a time due to migraines. Huge sympathies to you. They are miserable things.

I take Zomig too. Brilliant stuff! Strange side effect of sensitive skin and needing a huge wee an hour after taking it, but better than a full blown migraine any day!

Thank you for the replies. I have tried two of the triptans. Forget which ones. First did nothing very much and the second gave me a numb face. That was during the first series. I think GP said I couldn't try again because I am breast feeding.

Thank you for confirming the link to neck problems. Need to change GPs I think.

There are lots of Triptans to try.

I was given Sumatriptan initially and nada - nothing. We tried a few others and now I have a magical, life changing migraine combo that I take as soon as I feel one coming:

1 x naratriptan (sometimes 2 if it's one of those belters that wakes you up in the middle of the night)
2 x Neurofen Migraine tablets
Washed down with 1 x can fat coke.

It has changed my life.

for you. Migraine is shit.

I would definately get a referral, GP's are great but not always as far forward in their thinking about Migraines as they could be.
In terms of medication - if it is something that is causing you real problems you can try a preventive medication. I take topiramate daily which has cut my migraines down, alongside the triptans to manage if I do get one (have tried everyone of them but Maxtra/Rizatriptan was the only ones that worked for me)
In addition you might also want to get a migracap (Amazon?) which can help if you have the type of migraines that respond to cold.
Also try looking at the preventative diet - cut out caffeine, bananas, alcohol etc. As sometimes these trigger migraines.
Migraines are horrible and hard so I hope you find a little bit of relief

Hi can I join this thread? Following having blood clots in the brain earlier this year I've been left with constant headaches. The neurologist now thinks they are migraines although they don't completely floor me or give me visual problems the constant pain is pretty uncomfortable. They've put me on an increasing dose of Topiramate which I'm yet to notice a difference with but fingers crossed they work. Because of the need for warfarin I think there's some medicines I can't take.

chicken I don't know if your headaches would be classed in the same way as a normal migraine as they seem to be a constant??

I do know from experience that migraines can come about as a result of another condition - I never used to get migraine then I contracted meningitis, had a bad lumbar puncture that was worse than the illness itself and wasn't patched, and ever since then (10 years ago) I've suffered from migraine.

But they are not constant. And they are aggravated by some of the usual suspects: hormones, alcohol etc.

So it's possible i may have started getting them anyway? Impossible to know.

I think the element of yours which sets them apart is the 'constant'. I am not saying they are not migraine but your treatment may need closer attention.

Slightly I agree with you. I've had migraines and these are different but the neuro didn't seem to think so.

This is exactly what happens to me and a really good physio proved it is my neck that is the issue. If my neck gets bad and don't get it treated, resulting in migraine, then triptans etc do nothing - two paracetamol and two ibuprofen taken together, repeatedly every four hours for two or three doses, plus ibuprofen gel rubbed into my neck is all that helps. My DH has now learnt how to massage my neck when it starts to get bad, so I don't often reach the migraine point - I'm due to deliver a baby any day so haven't been able to take the pills for the last 9 months!